GSEs

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac transferred a substantial amount of credit risk to the private sector through both single-family and multifamily market transactions in the first half of the year, with activity expected to rise in 2019, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

When the mortgage giant will be released from government control is anyone's guess, but the company's third-quarter report shows signs of an easier transition.

Fannie Mae has priced more securities that support a transition away from the London interbank offered rate.

In a move designed to improve access to financial products for consumers with low credit scores and short credit histories, Experian, FICO and Finicity are developing an "UltraFICO" score that lets individuals share checking and savings account data and help lenders better assess risk.

Incenter Mortgage Advisors is facilitating the sale of $3.7 billion in mortgage servicing rights tied to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, roughly one-third of which have private mortgage insurance.

Donald Layton, who has run the mortgage giant since 2012, discussed the busy agenda leading up to his departure and says Freddie can serve as a "technical adviser" in GSE reform talks.

Increasing pessimism about housing is driving Fannie Mae's estimates for originations this year down a little further.

MGIC Investment Corp.'s quarterly earnings were again driven by better-than-expected loss development, and those favorable results should be seen in the other private mortgage insurers' results as well, an industry analyst said.

Exploration and adoption of new technologies is essential for achieving strategic goals and satisfying the needs and expectations of mortgage borrowers.

The departing CEOs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac oversaw significant cultural and operational shifts that made the housing finance system safer and more responsive to market needs, but a tough job lies ahead for their successors.